TMW Posted July 19, 2015 Report Share Posted July 19, 2015 The sad news that Jon Armstrong has reached the end of the road http://www.speedwaygb.co/news.php?extend.29199 http://www.stokepotters.co/news.php?extend.790 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Halifaxtiger Posted July 19, 2015 Report Share Posted July 19, 2015 Lets hope he can find a way to continue. I have only met him once but I have never heard a bad word about him and have heard many, many good ones. Speedway can ill afford to lose the likes of Jon Armstrong. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChaosTheory22 Posted July 20, 2015 Report Share Posted July 20, 2015 I really hope he does continue somehow, I've seen him a few times and he's very entertaining. Can't his club have a collection for him to help with repair bills? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ommer Mon Posted July 21, 2015 Report Share Posted July 21, 2015 I hope a way can be found to keep Armo in the sport. He played a major part in the resurrection of the Heathens and his contribution to helping some of the youngsters develop was significant. The NL would be poorer without him. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baldy Posted July 21, 2015 Report Share Posted July 21, 2015 I really hope he does continue somehow, I've seen him a few times and he's very entertaining. Can't his club have a collection for him to help with repair bills? Unfortunately the sort of bills that need to be cleared are not the sort that can be cleared with a hat going around. Poor crowds everywhere in speedway now and especially at Stoke means that crowd collections are not going to bring much.Jon by the looks of it has had problem after problem with machinery. Married with kids riding in a league that does not pay well is a recipe for bad times if things go against you. If I am wrong and I hope I am, thanks for all your efforts for speedway and all those you have entertained and helped over the years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TMW Posted July 21, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 21, 2015 Further news..... http://www.stokepotters.co/news.php?extend.792 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Countershaftcounter Posted July 21, 2015 Report Share Posted July 21, 2015 Unfortunately the sort of bills that need to be cleared are not the sort that can be cleared with a hat going around. Poor crowds everywhere in speedway now and especially at Stoke means that crowd collections are not going to bring much.Jon by the looks of it has had problem after problem with machinery. Married with kids riding in a league that does not pay well is a recipe for bad times if things go against you. If I am wrong and I hope I am, thanks for all your efforts for speedway and all those you have entertained and helped over the years. how the hell do you run up a 12k debt racing in the national league ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
secsy1 Posted July 21, 2015 Report Share Posted July 21, 2015 how the hell do you run up a 12k debt racing in the national league ? Living beyond your means, unfortunately too many don't realise you have to have it before you spend it. Quite reckless if you have children!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SCB Posted July 21, 2015 Report Share Posted July 21, 2015 how the hell do you run up a 12k debt racing in the national league ? Wasn't Jon Armstrong claiming in the Speedway Star last year that he had used the same engine for about 12 years now? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TMW Posted July 22, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 22, 2015 Wasn't Jon Armstrong claiming in the Speedway Star last year that he had used the same engine for about 12 years now? Ye. What appears to have happened is he switched to GM's this year after running JAWA's for the last 12 years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speedibee Posted July 22, 2015 Report Share Posted July 22, 2015 how the hell do you run up a 12k debt racing in the national league ? with an engine service @ £500 every 30 races . £45 a time for a tyre , clutch plates chains and sprockets oil . it's pretty easy I should think .and once your'e in a team there's no saying Oh Im a bit skint i think Ill leave it this week Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stoke Potter Posted July 22, 2015 Report Share Posted July 22, 2015 Wasn't Jon Armstrong claiming in the Speedway Star last year that he had used the same engine for about 12 years now? I was thinking the same. Perhaps this is a case of "Trigger's Broom" (Only Fools & Horses). Looking at the bigger picture, it would've been far better for someone to invest £12k (or whatever the actual amount is) in the facilities/infrastructure at Loomer Rd., thereby enhancing the experience for the fans. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catinthehat Posted July 22, 2015 Report Share Posted July 22, 2015 From what i can see he is a really nice guy and put everything he had into speedway, 12k can be easily racked up by not only the running cost of speedway but the cost of everything else that goes with it, this year along to be up with the best of them last years silencers went out the window with a cost of over £200 each plus a oil at £8 a liter and a gallon of fuel at £8, so then you have a tyre to make sure your up with the rest, plus the to have an afternoon off work to ride speedway? At a guess to £61 to start a bike up then £16 a race to cover your service cost of £500 every 30 races of an engine x 5 races £141 running cost? at a guess then on top of that you have got clutch plates and chain wear and tear before you have to replace anything else that may go wrong. Jon's a nice guy let someone help him out if i had the money i would. speedway would be a lesser place if he was not in the sport. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex2000 Posted July 22, 2015 Report Share Posted July 22, 2015 Well his retirement lasted a long time... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mac101 Posted July 22, 2015 Report Share Posted July 22, 2015 Pretty sure john also bought 2 new full chassis at the start of the year as well as 2 new engines and being a number 1 you need pretty good equipment even to ride in the NL normal blow ups big or small end bearings going can be fixed pretty easy but when you have to basically chuck most of the main parts in the bin with johns first blow up the the rod broke only after 13 heats and then went throught casings also went throught the barrel and cracked it and the piston flipped and went into the head and done the valves not much left after that ,and when you start the season your hoping to make enough throught the year to recoup what you spend at the start but most never do and his van also chucked it a month back and had to get another one also ,you don't do this sport at NL level to make money you do it for the love and the adrenalin rush for 1 minute every race only a racer will know about that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teaboy279 Posted July 22, 2015 Report Share Posted July 22, 2015 (edited) From what i can see he is a really nice guy and put everything he had into speedway, 12k can be easily racked up by not only the running cost of speedway but the cost of everything else that goes with it, this year along to be up with the best of them last years silencers went out the window with a cost of over £200 each plus a oil at £8 a liter and a gallon of fuel at £8, so then you have a tyre to make sure your up with the rest, plus the to have an afternoon off work to ride speedway? At a guess to £61 to start a bike up then £16 a race to cover your service cost of £500 every 30 races of an engine x 5 races £141 running cost? at a guess then on top of that you have got clutch plates and chain wear and tear before you have to replace anything else that may go wrong. Jon's a nice guy let someone help him out if i had the money i would. speedway would be a lesser place if he was not in the sport.Which is great news, top bloke! Does not matter which team it is when a rider falls and is in discomfort Armo is invariably the first man there to check the rider out and stays with him till he is back in the pits.Not to mention he pulled of the move of the season last year at any level. When he dived between 2 buxton riders to take the lead entering turn 3 at mildenhall last year in the pairs. SORRY QUOTED WRONG POST, I MEANT TO QUOTE ALEX Edited July 22, 2015 by teaboy279 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex2000 Posted July 22, 2015 Report Share Posted July 22, 2015 You can't have a national development league without the experienced ones to guide them the right way! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TMW Posted July 23, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 23, 2015 (edited) I was thinking the same. Perhaps this is a case of "Trigger's Broom" (Only Fools & Horses). Looking at the bigger picture, it would've been far better for someone to invest £12k (or whatever the actual amount is) in the facilities/infrastructure at Loomer Rd., thereby enhancing the experience for the fans. I don't think it is anything like 12K that has been raised. I think what has actually been raised is a few hundred pounds to buy a 2nd hand engine and get it up to John's standard. he has other engines but no time or money (Or will) to get them sorted as they would take a lot of work but hopefully this will tie him over till it gets sorted. This has highlighted the supplier's of engines and parts unscrupulous trading ethics though. It's win win for the suppliers "No comeback on racing parts" just buy, buy, buy. Sell, sell,sell........Kerching Edited July 23, 2015 by TMW Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SCB Posted July 23, 2015 Report Share Posted July 23, 2015 I don't think it is anything like 12K that has been raised. I think what has actually been raised is a few hundred pounds to buy a 2nd hand engine and get it up to John's standard. he has other engines but no time or money (Or will) to get them sorted as they would take a lot of work but hopefully this will tie him over till it gets sorted. This has highlighted the supplier's of engines and parts unscrupulous trading ethics though. It's win win for the suppliers "No comeback on racing parts" just buy, buy, buy. Sell, sell,sell........Kerching I guess thats were reputation come in. If there a supplier/tuner/service-guy out there whos engines keep blowing up, people will soon learn to avoid them. Just a shame for the few that get caught. Good to hear Jon hasn't retired, he's a likable racer who has been a stalwart of the 3rd division with the odd, reasonable successful (almost too successful at times) foray into the 2nd division. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ch958 Posted July 23, 2015 Report Share Posted July 23, 2015 I know it sounds stupid and simplistic but can't bikes be designed to not disintegrate with mechanical failure - my car doesn't do this??? Isn't this one of those things that should be looked at for costs etc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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